Facebook Know-It-All Groups

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I have to put this somewhere, and where better than AN. So one of the reasons I like to hang on AN is the level of responsibility most of us feel to each other. Yes there are definitely those who will rip down a new grad or badger someone who states they love nursing for the money, but those topics aside most of us seem to be aware that our comments here have the power to alter the direction that people take in their day to day.

Lately I have seen a surge of FB pages that try to offer a sounding board to participants. Specifically for me, since I am 35 weeks pregnant, in relation to pregnancy and breastfeeding.

It amazes me how quick people are to dismiss professional knowledge in favor or wives tales, random one line "oh I would never do that, it isn't medically necessary" (oh yeah where is your reference to the study to prove that?), or I am a "crunchy" mom which I guess really means "I ignore any advice given by medical professionals".

One situation which really got my undies in a bunch was a woman who scored 180 on her Gestational Diabetes (GD) screening at week 26ish. The OB called her back and told her they were going to put her on the protocols for GD. Apparently because they described the test as a "screening" she felt it didn't hold any validity (I feel bad if she comes back with precancerous cells on her Pap screening), so she was going to do the fingersticks, but wasn't going to change her diet or use insulin. She was convinced she didn't have GD because she was measuring small.

Ok so she posts about this on a small pregnancy FB page and everyone was giving her the "hell yeah fight the man" BS cheer squad. I posted asking why she didn't just go in and get more clarification on why she was being diagnosed with GD and wasn't having the 3 hour glucose "test" (which apparently she felt was more valid because it was called a test).

I am all for patients looking for information, trying to be informed, I think that is fantastic, however I think pretty soon we will see AMA forms in medical offices for those who don't believe they need to follow the recommendations of their practitioners.

So if I don't believe my doc is right about GD, refuse to follow the protocols, then have a 12 pound baby that requires a C/S, later in life gets diabetes and costs the health care system hundreds of thousands, should I have any right to compensation?

I am definitely being way more black and white than I generally am, but I just wish people with merely anecdotal information would shut up, and those who do have some kind of supported evidence would come forward and prove it. Though I guess this could be said of anything really.

Ah the Soundbite Society mentality drives me bonkers some days and clarifies some of the whack-a-doo things patients will fear when they come into the hospital.

I've heard that with pregnancy in particular, there are all KINDS of crazy lunatic internet theories out there. There is always someone who will tell you how wrong you are and how their way is better. The advice that was given to me is, once you get pregnant, stay off the internet and especially off of mother-baby message boards.

Yeah this PG 2 for me and I haven't been on a WTEWYE board at all. Definitely just a place to get misinformed and scared out of your wits. It is just interesting how it has started cropping up on my FB lately.

Yes there are definitely those who will rip down a new grad or badger someone who states they love nursing for the money, but those topics aside most of us seem to be aware that our comments here have the power to alter the direction that people take in their day to day.

I've been trying to get input here for about a month. I'm taking a correspondence LPN refresher course, because that is all I can get a hold of at this point. I live in a rural area, and the nearest course is an a hour and a half drive away...one way. I need to work to pay rent. So far most of the comments have been derogatory about what I am dong..disparaging remarks about accreditation and even one person asked if I was n prison.

I have attempted to start conversations regarding topics I need to know, yet...no positive response. I find this site very discouraging, and have been considering turning to Facebook to find a group willing to talk about issues.
My history is 15 years as a critical care pediatric LPN, temp nurse, home care, hospice. 4 years Army combat nurse. 16 years ago I was paralyzed from the waist down with a diagnosis of MS. The wheelchair and eventual nursing home placement that was foretold never came about, and 4 years ago I was told I had transverse myelitis. I taught myself how to walk again, raised a son with a minor disability a t about the same time...I will get my LPN licence back. Simple as that...I'm just disappointed that there are so many elitist responders on this site.

I think you probably need to take comments on here with a grain of salt as well JasonValentine. Consider that some might be 'disparaging' your correspondence course because of the current market. It is difficult for nurses to find who coming from name-brand schools. Instead of trying to discourage, they might have been trying to inject a sense of reality, that a job might be hard to find with this accreditation.
The point OP was trying to make is that on AN, the majority of us work in healthcare or are in training to become HCW. While there are still emotional, uninformed comments (we are after all human and have the right to be emotional, I think!), on average you are more likely to get good advice compared to facebook or other sites.
Then again, if what you are looking for is unrealistic, pat-on-the-back kind of comments, then sure, you will probably find much support there.

I do very much commend your hard work and determination and I am not trying to put down your efforts. Maybe your conversations were not phrased properly to gain appropriate attention. I am on AN on an almost daily basis, and don't think I ever saw your name.

I've been trying to get input here for about a month. I'm taking a correspondence LPN refresher course, because that is all I can get a hold of at this point. I live in a rural area, and the nearest course is an a hour and a half drive away...one way. I need to work to pay rent. So far most of the comments have been derogatory about what I am dong..disparaging remarks about accreditation and even one person asked if I was n prison.

I have attempted to start conversations regarding topics I need to know, yet...no positive response. I find this site very discouraging, and have been considering turning to Facebook to find a group willing to talk about issues.
My history is 15 years as a critical care pediatric LPN, temp nurse, home care, hospice. 4 years Army combat nurse. 16 years ago I was paralyzed from the waist down with a diagnosis of MS. The wheelchair and eventual nursing home placement that was foretold never came about, and 4 years ago I was told I had transverse myelitis. I taught myself how to walk again, raised a son with a minor disability a t about the same time...I will get my LPN licence back. Simple as that...I'm just disappointed that there are so many elitist responders on this site.

I've read your threads and am sincerely puzzled as to what has seemed so offensive and elitist in the responses. Apart from the random prison comment, of course. One responder even seemed to be genuinely commiserating with you and you thanked her for the "insult."

The "disparaging" remarks about accreditation were simply questions as to whether your online course is accredited, a very standard and useful thing to know.

I am surprised that people on facebook (which has your name, info, profile picture) are offering medical advise over the internet. If anything were to happen, that person could be liable. How dumb as these people? Lol! People go on there and ask question until they get the right answer. Freedom of speech can be freedom to be stupid.

I am surprised that people on facebook (which has your name, info, profile picture) are offering medical advise over the internet. If anything were to happen, that person could be liable. How dumb as these people? Lol! People go on there and ask question until they get the right answer. Freedom of speech can be freedom to be stupid.

Kinda like some of the threads here. Keep asking until you get validation! Or stage a dramatic flounce when they don't like what they hear/read.